Chapter 918 – Speaking of the Past in White Emperor City (1/2)
Chapter 918 – Speaking of the Past in White Emperor City
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
In the distant western region of the continent was a beautiful yet dangerous world. This world had countless mountains that were capped with snow in all four seasons. It had countless great rivers and countless primordial forests, and in both the bottom of these waters and the depths of these forests, one would find an uncountable number of fierce beasts. This world was what was known to the common people as the land of the demi-humans.
Deep within the land of the demi-humans stood a most grand and wondrous metropolis. It towered amongst the mountains and was circled by the eight hundred li of the Red River. Its walls were built of glossy white stone, and when paired with the clouds that wrapped around it year-round, it presented an indescribably magnificent sight from the distance, inspiring reverence and fear. This grand metropolis did not have the capital's Imperial Design, nor did it have the underground array of the Li Palace. When defending against foreign enemies, it relied on its sturdy walls and the unflinching will and violent temperaments of the demi-humans.
This was the legendary White Emperor City.
It was said that countless years ago, when the Heavenly Tome Monoliths descended on the Eastern Continent and the Human race began to develop intelligence, the demi-humans were also enlightened, developing their own culture. However, because they were somewhat farther from the Mausoleum of Books, their culture advanced at a slower pace than the Human race. Some demi-humans who lived in the wilderness were even now still rather savage.
Before the founding of their country, the Demi-human race had not had a very pleasant experience on the continent on account of their simple natures, suffering terrible discrimination and oppression from the Demon race. The nearly extinct Elves were physical proof of this tragic period of history. Moreover, the role the Human race played in this period of history was certainly not glorious.
Finally, more than a thousand years ago, for the sake of resisting the unspeakably cruel Demon race that was growing stronger by the day, several generations of great leaders from both the Demi-human and Human race spent a great deal of patience and wisdom to finally convince both sides to cast aside their grudges and join hands. This ultimately resulted in the formation of an alliance during Emperor Taizong's reign.
After many years, the hatred between the demi-humans and humans gradually began to fade. However, because of that long-ago period of history and the irreconcilable differences between the two races, they still regarded each other with some hostility and wariness. For example, in the recent war, the human army had fought against the demons on the snowy plain for a whole two years, yet the demi-humans had done nothing other than move two tribes a thousand-some li to the east.
This point had already garnered much discussion in the capital. The ministers and generals of the Human race were worried that the Demi-human race might have other ideas, but the most esteemed Shang Xingzhou remained calm. He had a deep trust in his assessment of the situation, as he believed that he had a deep understanding of Madam Mu's desires.
……
……
”In truth, I myself do not understand just what it is I want.
”The identities we live in end up being the roles we play, whether it's princess, empress, wife, or mother.
”But as we act longer and longer, playing more and more roles, we often forget just who we are.
”If you can't even be sure of what role you're playing, how can you determine what it is you want? If we want to a get clear and truthful answer, we have to look back at where we came from, reverse time to where it all began. We have to remember what we first saw when we opened our eyes to this world.
”At the time, I was hugging my father, standing on the shore. The mighty waves were like a turbulent sea of ink, and in it was a dancing white dot. It was very beautiful.
”What about you?”
The eight hundred li of the Red River circled White Emperor City, irrigating the plains on both sides. Countless tribes lived within the lush forests.
In the depths of an extremely well-concealed cliff was a small building that seemed one with the earth.
In front of this building was a meadow, and beneath the meadow was a steep cliff. In the distance was the surging Red River and a magnificent city in the clouds.
A woman stood at the edge of the cliff, gazing at the red river and white city as she slowly spoke in an indifferent tone.
A girl dressed in black stood behind her, a chain tied to her ankles. The other end of this chain extended deep into the ground. Of course, it was the little Black Dragon, Zhizhi.
She looked at the woman's back and very naturally recalled the person she most feared, the Tianhai Divine Empress.
Perhaps it was because this woman also seemed eminent and unapproachable, or perhaps it was because she also had a habit of holding her hands behind her back.
There was only one woman in the present world that could be compared to the Tianhai Divine Empress: Madam Mu, Empress of White Emperor City.
The little Black Dragon seriously considered Madam Mu's question and replied, ”I saw a pearl.”
She spread her arms out in the air. ”It was a pearl about this large.”
If she was not exaggerating, then this pearl's size was truly rather absurd.